In winter: Why the cell phone battery drains faster in the cold

Winter can be a challenge for your cell phone battery. The lithium-ion batteries drain in the cold in no time. We'll tell you why and what you can do about it.

Cell phone batteries weaken in winter - that's the reason

The triggers are certain processes, which in turn are caused by cold.

• Cold slows down electrochemical processes that take place permanently in the batteries.
• As a result, the internal resistance of the battery increases, as the electrolyte fluid it contains becomes more cumbersome.
• If the internal resistance is high, the battery cannot transfer large amounts of the required current to the smartphone and breaks down.
• In the end, the whole thing can also cause a deep discharge of the battery, which is why smartphones automatically switch off as a protective measure.
• This was particularly extreme in 2015 with the then new iPhone 6S. Here the batteries lost energy so quickly that the smartphone could not even display it. Apple then replaced the batteries of the affected devices free of charge.

Protect your smartphone from the cold

Use the following tips for longer battery life in winter:

• The ideal temperature range for cell phone batteries is between 10 and 35 degrees Celsius.
• You should keep these temperatures outdoors if possible by briefly exposing your smartphone to the cold and otherwise wearing it close to your body.
• Use headphones to make calls. This allows the cell phone to remain in your pocket.
• Before charging your smartphone after it has been exposed to cold temperatures for a long time, wait a while. The cell phone should warm up slowly. A quick change in temperature can cause condensation, which could lead to technical damage.